Anning is today considered by many scholars as “the greatest fossilist the world has known,” according to the British Society for the History of Science, but her work was widely considered to be a hoax during her lifetime.

As a woman, Anning was forbidden from becoming a member of the Geological Society and wasn’t even allowed to enter the building.

The “founding father of paleontology,” Georges Cuvier, initially declared her findings to be fake, before later admitting he was wrong and praising her “momentous discoveries.”

“With the days of her famed discoveries behind her, she now searches for common fossils to sell to tourists to support herself and her ailing mother. When a wealthy visitor entrusts Mary with the care of his wife Charlotte, she cannot afford to turn his offer down.

“Proud and relentlessly passionate about her work, Mary initially clashes with her unwelcome guest, but despite the distance between their social class and personalities, an intense bond begins to develop, compelling the two women to determine the true nature of their relationship.”

Interestingly, it is believed that Anning’s life was the inspiration for the classic tongue twister “She sells seashells by the sea shore.”